David McP's system

[Murray]

I have started this thread for David McP .
He has installed a 4 grow bed system.
In some earlier threads some have asked about aerating return water and are worried about the water noise. Noise can be a problem for people who live on some of these very tight suburban house blocks we see these days.

Attached is a photo of Davids return line which has a larger diameter pvc pipe sleeved over the return pipe. This sleeved pipe is floated by gluing (or, as in Davids example held by zip ties) a styrene collar around the bottom of the sleeved pipe. This collar will allow the sleeved pipe to move up and down as the water level changes during pump out and pump in.
The sleeved pipe very effectively muffles any water noise . The aeration effect is just as good as if the inlet pipe was not fitted with the sleeved pipe.
David has fitted the sleeved pipe to a bypass line from the main pump.
A very good idea.

[Murray]

David started to build his greenhouse roof on the ground. I think this is a pretty good way to go. Makes fitting the sheeting lot easier and safer. A family friend recently fell off his house roof, cleaning the gutters....3 weeks in hospital and lucky to survive.....so falling off roofs is a bit too easy....that's why I think Davids idea is a really good one.
Photo 1 shows the steel roof frame assembled. Good working height. Notice the concrete blocks holding the frame up off the ground.
Photo 2 shows the roof frame with clear sheeting fitted.
Photo 3 shows the roof lifted into position. Steel posts underneath. Also notice David has pre fitted the gutter brackets prior to lifting the roof into place. Good stable lifting platform....4 x steel painters tressels and some hand winches did the job.

[Murray]

David sent me this photo of his solar heating panel
He has slid this under his perspex roof. David says he is in the process of making up several more to improve the efficiency of the system.
Pretty good I reckon.

[twintragics]

Any ideas on costings for that roofing setup Muzz?

[Murray]

Sorry TT , I will ask him. I think he said that is one x 100 mtr roll of that soft 12mm poly pipe used in drip irrigation systems.

Here is a pix of David's system. You can see the perspex roof over his setup. He is sliding the solar heat coils in under the perspex above the fish tank area.

http://www.aquaponics.net.au/Images/DavidMcP1.jpg

[twintragics]

bit of work gone in there. Good looking setup, should be very productive.

[KIP]

Hi Murray
David has put together a very neat solar heating coil of polyethylene tubing but knowing how flexible this stuff is (I used it for my general reticulation system) and as it arrives in a coil, how darn annoying it is as it won't lay flat until its been in the sun for a day or two, HOW did David get it to sit flat?
And, while asking him:
1. can you check the size as it looks like 19mm to me;
2. how has he strapped it together so it stays together and flat; and
3. what are the dimensions of the former he used to make it?
Sorry for so many questions. I'm really interested in doing the same.
Thanks
KIP

[Murray]

David often logs onto the forum, but does not post........I will phone him today and ask him to write a reply.

.

[Murray]

I rang David, he is not happy with the results of his solar panel and is currently making up another system out of some old hot water system panels he has obtained. Part of the problem is also the pump. David found that the pump he was using did not have enough "head" to get the water up to the panel satisfactorily.

On the lay flat , curling up properties of the poly pipe. I ran mine out in a straight line on the ground and left it there for a few days before using it. That made it much more manageable.

[KIP]

Hi Murray
Thanks for chasing this up for me
Regards